ABSTRACT:
In fifty
years, laser technology has made great progress, and its many applications make
it essential in everyday life. However, this technology is still open to
numerous developments. Across multiple applications, there is particular focus
in the field of medicine, for diagnosis for tailored therapies, and as a
research tool in biology. Whereas its use is now well-demonstrated in
ophthalmologic and dermatologic treatments, and surgery, one of the most
fascinating aspects of laser technology in the field of biology emerged in the
late 1990s with the development of devices able to perform fine dissections of
biological tissues using a laser beam. The so-called laser-associated
microdissection offers a rapid, precise method of isolating and removing
targeted cells or groups of cells from complex biological tissues. It
represents the missing link between clinical observations and the intrinsic
physiological mechanisms of biological tissues. The molecular examination of
pathologically altered cells and tissues for DNA, RNA, and protein expression
has revolutionized research and diagnosis in pathology, enabling assessment of
the role of the cell type in the normal physiological or disease process.
Alongside conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, another field of
application contribute to the development of targeted treatments at the
nanoscale level of laser technology, mainly in the field of cancer, leading to
design new and innovative strategies in drug delivery and image-guided surgery.
Most of these approaches, but although not exhaustively, will be presented
here.